USC wins sixth consecutive NCAA men's water polo title

Gary Klein

Nikola Vavic scored in the second overtime and goalie James Clark foiled two power plays in the final minutes as USC won its record sixth consecutive NCAA men's water polo championship with a 12-11 victory over Pacific on Sunday at Palo Alto.

Vavic had four goals as USC finished 28-4.

Coach Jovan Vavic, Nikola's father, won his 13th NCAA championship, nine with Trojans men's team and four with the USC women.

The top-seeded Trojans overcame a two-goal deficit in the fourth quarter en route to the victory.

Pacific led, 10-8, with less than four minutes left in regulation, but USC tied the score on goals by Nikola Vavic and Ivan Kustic.

Jeremy Davie's goal with two minutes left gave the Trojans the lead before Balazs Erdelyi's seventh goal for Pacific sent the game into overtime.

The score remained tied until Vavic scored in the first minute of the second overtime. Clark stepped up with two of his career-best 17 saves to help seal the victory.

Kustic, Rex Butler and Kostas Genidounias each scored two goals for USC. Davie and Zach Lucas each had one.